Written Answers Tuesday 8 December 2009

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to prevent landowners circumventing the tenant farmers’ pre-emptive right to buy.

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of a landlord evading a tenant farmer’s pre-emptive right to buy it has been made aware of.

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider revising the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 2003 to take into account the changing circumstances in the tenanted sector.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 2003 sets out at section 27 criteria governing where landlords and landowners can and cannot proceed with the transfer of farm land without triggering a pre-emptive right to buy. The Scottish Government is presently unaware of any cases being brought to its attention which demonstrates evasion has taken place. It would be for the courts to determine where provisions of the act have been circumvented and provide a remedy.

  The Tenant Farming Forum has been reviewing and discussing perceived anomalies within the current agricultural holdings legislation in Scotland and has recently submitted priority recommendations relating mainly to minimum length of tenancies which are under consideration for early implementation. Should the forum bring forward evidence and recommendations on other matters related to changing circumstances in the farm tenancy sector we will consider them carefully.

Agriculture

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much farmland is tenanted compared with 1999.

Roseanna Cunningham: The amount of rented farm land has fallen from 1.78 million hectares in 1999 to 1.59 million hectares in 2008. This information is drawn from the June Agricultural Census, with yearly comparisons available in the Abstract of Scottish Agricultural Statistics, 1992 to 2008.

Alcohol Misuse

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many primary school pupils in the Lothians region have been sent home from school as a result of alcohol misuse in each of the last five years.

Michael Russell: In the annual national statistics report on exclusions, published on 26 January 2009, it was recorded that there were five or less cases of primary school pupils being temporarily excluded from Lothian primary schools during the school year 2007-08 as a result of alcohol misuse. The figure in the previous four years has been zero.

  The publication uses five or less to reduce the risk of individuals being identified through the publication of the statistics. The actual figure will be between one and five.

Allotments

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, with regard to allotments, a regulation is a rule or other device that has the effect of regulating the letting of allotments and for putting into effect the provisions of the allotments legislation.

John Swinney: Allotment legislation refers to regulations which local authorities can make about the letting of allotments in their area, but does not define these. It is up to each local authority to decide whether and how it makes allotment regulations in terms of the relevant legislation.

Animal Welfare

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in implementing proposals to combat illegal snaring announced on 20 February 2008.

Roseanna Cunningham: I expect to lay an Order before Parliament very shortly, which will make changes to the regulation of snaring in Scotland. I expect any changes to the regulation of snaring which would require primary legislation to be progressed through the government’s proposed Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill.

Birds

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive at what meeting and with whom licences to kill or control buzzards and other protected species were discussed, as reported in The Scotsman on 4 November 2009, and whether ministers were involved in such meetings.

Roseanna Cunningham: The meeting referred to in The Scotsman article took place on the 26 October 2009.

  The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the criteria for the issue of licences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, for the purpose of protecting game-birds from avian predators. The meeting was held by the Scottish Government and attended by representatives of the following organisations:

  British Association of Shooting and Conservation, Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Scottish Countryside Alliance, Scottish Estates Business Group, Scottish Gamekeepers Association, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Raptor Study Groups, Scottish Rural Property and Business Association and Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

  No ministers were present, but I was aware of the meeting and its purpose.

Bute House

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the top 10 dishes served at Bute House in 2009, broken down by cost per head.

John Swinney: Menus for ministerial hospitality at Bute House are supplied by outside caterers. The Scottish Government aims to source sustainable, local produce, showcasing what Scotland has to offer. This therefore means suppliers and menus differ on most occasions, hence there are no top dishes at this venue. All events organised at Bute House are arranged with cost effectiveness as a priority.

Climate Change

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations it has held regarding the provision of permitted development rights for air source heat pumps and micro wind turbines in domestic properties, as specified in section 70 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.

Stewart Stevenson: Consultation meeting the terms of section 70(4) of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 has yet to take place.

  The final research report setting out the findings of the independent study commissioned by ministers on this topic was submitted to the Scottish Government last week and will be published by mid December. The report provides us with recommendations on PDR which will provide the basis for further consultation in accordance with the act.

Climate Change

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its public engagement strategy, as specified in section 91 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.

Stewart Stevenson: The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 requires the public engagement strategy to be published no later than 31 December 2010.

Climate Change

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken toward setting out its objectives in relation to adaptation to climate change.

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will set out its objectives in relation to adaptation to climate change.

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken toward setting out its proposals and policies for meeting its objectives in relation to adaptation to climate change.

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will set out its proposals and policies for meeting its objectives in relation to adaptation to climate change.

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken toward setting out the arrangements for involving employers, trade unions and other stakeholders in meeting its objectives in relation to adaptation to climate change.

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will set out the arrangements for involving employers, trade unions and other stakeholders in meeting its objectives in relation to adaptation to climate change.

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken toward setting out the period within which proposals and policies for meeting its objectives in relation to adaptation to climate change will be introduced.

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will set out the period within which proposals and policies for meeting its objectives in relation to adaptation to climate change will be introduced.

Stewart Stevenson: I am pleased to announce that Scotland’s first Climate Change Adaptation Framework will be launched later today by the First Minister.

  This framework presents a national, coordinated approach to ensure that Scotland understands the risks and opportunities climate change presents and is adapting in a sustainable way. It sets out the overarching model for adapting to climate change in Scotland and contains summaries of climate change adaptation in key sectors. These summaries will be developed into workstreams over the coming year and will be taken forward working in close collaboration with a wide range of partners and stakeholders.

  Copies of the framework have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 49828).

Crime

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28444 by Fergus Ewing on 5 November 2009, what the age by year was of each offender.

Fergus Ewing: The available information is given in the following tables.

  Persons Convicted of Handling an Offensive Weapon1 by Age2 and Gender, 2007-08

  

Age
Males
Age
Males
Age
Males
Age
Males
Age
Males
Age
Males


15
6
20
201
30
83
40
40
50
9
60
3


16
132
21
192
31
65
41
46
51
11
61
1


17
282
22
156
32
70
42
34
52
10
62
2


18
276
23
135
33
56
43
26
53
9
63
2


19
224
24
127
34
67
44
26
54
5
64
1


 
 
25
119
35
42
45
36
55
4
65
1


 
 
26
120
36
53
46
17
56
7
67
2


 
 
27
104
37
51
47
16
57
2
68
1


 
 
28
99
38
57
48
13
58
8
70
2


 
 
29
86
39
56
49
16
59
2
71
1


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total 
3,212



  Persons Convicted of Handling an Offensive Weapon1 by Age2 and Gender, 2007-08

  

Age
Females
Age
Females
Age
Females
Age
Females
Age
Females


16
3
20
11
30
5
40
4
50
1


17
8
21
4
31
3
41
2
51
3


18
9
22
8
32
2
42
3
53
1


19
15
23
14
33
9
43
3
54
2


 
 
24
2
34
3
44
3
56
1


 
 
25
14
35
9
45
3
60
1


 
 
26
11
36
5
46
4
 
 


 
 
27
6
37
5
47
4
 
 


 
 
28
6
38
1
49
6
 
 


 
 
29
8
39
4
 
 
Total 
206



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. At date of sentence.

Crime

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people under 18 have had a charge proved for handling an offensive weapon in each of the last five years.

Fergus Ewing: The available information is given in the following table.

  Persons Aged Under 18 Convicted of Handling an Offensive Weapon1, by Age, 2003-04 - 2007-08

  

Age2
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08


13
1
0
0
0
0


14
0
0
1
3
0


15
4
4
4
1
6


16
91
126
162
150
135


17
245
298
339
335
290


Total
341
428
506
489
431



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. At date of sentence.

Digital Technology

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects rural communities with a broadband service of less than the Digital Britain Report universal service target of 2 megabits per second to be able to apply to upgrade their services under the LEADER programme.

Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29269 on 3 December 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions area available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Digital Technology

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what lessons are to be learned from the Cybermoor project in Cumberland as a means of improving rural broadband coverage.

Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29290 on 3 December 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions area available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Drug Misuse

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) known and (b) estimated heroin users there have been in each year since 1950.

Fergus Ewing: The number of known and estimated heroin users since 1950 is not held centrally.

  However, estimates of the prevalence of problematic opiate (includes heroin and other opiates) and/or benzodiazepine misuse in Scotland have been carried out for 2000, 2003 and 2006. Table 1 shows the estimated numbers across Scotland and the 95% confidence interval for each estimate.

  Table 1: Estimated Numbers of Problem Drug Users (Opiates and/or Benzodiazepine Misuse): Scotland 2000, 2003 and 2006

  

 
2000
2003
2006


Scotland point estimate (95 % confidence range)
55,800 (43,664 – 78,443)
51,582 (51,456 – 56,379)
55,328 (54,451 – 57,234)



  Source: Estimating the National and Local Prevalence of Problem Drug Misuse in Scotland Centre for Drug Misuse Research, University of Glasgow Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health.

  http://www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org/publications/local/Prevalence_2009.pdf.

Drug Misuse

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many deaths have been attributed to (a) drugs and (b) heroin misuse in each year since 1950.

Fergus Ewing: Information on drug-related deaths can be found in Drug-related Deaths in Scotland in 2008 published by the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) in August 2009:

  http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files2/stats/drug-related-deaths/drug-related-deaths-in-scotland-in-2008.pdf.

  The GROS website also provides information on drug-related deaths publications from 1997:  http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data/drug-related-deaths/index.html.

Employment

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were employed in (a) Dundee and (b) Angus in each of the last three years for which figures are available, broken down by (a) sector and (b) gender.

John Swinney: The official source of employment levels by local authority is the Annual Population Survey (APS). The latest available APS data is for April 2008 to March 2009. Table 1 shows the number of people employed in Dundee and Angus in each of the last three years by sector and table 2 provides the data by gender.

  Table 1: Employment Levels by Broad Industry Sector, 12 months to March, 2007, 2008, and 2009

  


 
Dundee City
Angus


2007
2008
2009
2007
2008
2009


A-B: Agriculture and fishing
*
*
*
1,700
2,200
2,600


C,E: Energy and water
*
*
*
1,500
2,100
1,800


D: Manufacturing
6,900
5,600
6,800
7,000
6,700
6,000


F: Construction
4,900
5,000
4,100
5,700
5,800
5,400


G-H: Distribution, hotels and restaurants
13,800
13,400
13,500
9,700
9,100
10,000


I: Transport and communication
4,400
3,200
3,600
2,000
2,200
2,300


J-K: Banking, finance and insurance etc
7,100
7,600
7,200
5,200
4,900
5,200


L-N: Public admin, education and health
24,000
25,900
24,000
16,300
17,200
17,500


O-Q: Other services
4,200
5,500
4,000
4,000
3,400
3,500


All
66,400
67,000
64,400
53,300
53,900
54,500



  Source: Annual Population Survey, Office for National Statistics.

  Notes:

  *Estimate suppressed as below reliability threshold.

  1. Employment levels are for those aged 16 and over.

  2. Data may not sum due to rounding.

  Table 2: Employment Levels by Gender, 12 months to March, 2007, 2008, and 2009

  


 
Dundee City
Angus


2007
2008
2009
2007
2008
2009


Male
34,300
32,800
32,600
28,100
28,600
28,700


Female
32,000
34,300
31,800
25,200
25,300
25,800


All
66,400
67,000
64,400
53,300
53,900
54,500



  Source: Annual Population Survey, Office for National Statistics.

  Notes:

  1. Employment levels are for those aged 16 and over.

  2. Data may not sum due to rounding.

Environment

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to respond to the EU 2020: a new strategy to make the EU a smarter, greener social market consultation.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government’s own economic strategy been in place for over two years now and very much aligned with the aims of the Lisbon Strategy. We welcome the consultation on the EU 2020, published on the 24 November 2009. The Scottish Government will be putting in a response to the consultation as well as contributing to the UK response.

Finance

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to collect information on the number of people required to use their family homes as security for loans in order to keep small and micro-businesses in operation.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is undertaking an update survey in November on SME Access to Finance, which follows on from the publication of the first survey in July 2009. The survey will examine issues around accessing finance for small and medium-sized businesses in Scotland, and will include a new question to gauge the extent to which small businesses have secured finance against their personal homes.

  The link to the first report on SME Access to Finance is given below:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Economy/access-finance/report.

Football

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many football banning orders have been (a) requested and (b) implemented since 1 September 2006.

Kenny MacAskill: Since September 2006, 570 cases requesting Football Banning Orders (FBOs) have been reported to procurators fiscal across the country. A total of 67 FBOs have been issued as at 1 December 2009.

  The Scottish Government announced an evaluation of Football Banning Orders on 18 November 2009. The evaluation will consider the operation of the scheme to date and recommend any changes to enhance its effectiveness.

  The Scottish Government will continue to work with the Football Banning Order Monitoring Group to raise awareness and increase uptake of FBOs.

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002

Michael Matheson (Falkirk West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to consult any bodies about possibly extending to them the coverage of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

Bruce Crawford: To confirm that the Scottish Government will consult on extending the coverage of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act to the following bodies:

  Contractors who build and maintain schools, Contractors who build and maintain hospitals, Contractors who operate and maintain trunk roads under private finance contracts, Contractors who run privately managed prisons and provide prisoner escort and court custodial services, Leisure, sport and cultural trusts and bodies established by local authorities, Glasgow Housing Association, The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland.

  A consultation paper will be published in due course. It will seek the views of any interested persons, as well as the bodies themselves (or their representative bodies). In particular the government is mindful of the impact of the economic downturn and will examine any potential negative impact on the bodies proposed before reaching its conclusions on extending coverage.

  Additionally, the government will explore options for ensuring that Registered Social Landlords increase their transparency and accountability through the proposed Housing (Scotland) Bill.

Health

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patient discharges were delayed in each of the last three years, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: Information on patients awaiting discharge in each census from October 2006 to October 2009 is shown in the following table. This shows those waiting six weeks and over. Six weeks (43 days or more), is the common period for discharge planning agreement timescales across Scotland and was the focus of the original target to reduce these to zero. This was achieved for the first time in April 2008.

  Number of NHS Delayed Discharges Six Weeks and over by NHS Board from the October 2006 Census to the October 2009 Census

  

 
2006
2007
2008
2009


October
January
April
July
October
January
April
July
October
January
April
July
October


Scotland
679
606
233
423
425
316
-
44
91
79
-
55
94


Ayrshire and Arran
78
62
19
35
40
17
-
-
12
12
-
10
-


Borders
9
9
8
7
5
9
-
-
4
1
-
1
1


Dumfries and Galloway
3
2
-
2
1
1
-
-
4
-
-
-
-


Fife
37
34
17
61
87
52
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


Forth Valley
53
48
29
21
15
17
-
6
9
-
-
-
1


Grampian
88
95
34
43
48
63
-
1
-
-
-
1
3


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
130
119
68
92
76
63
-
11
21
23
-
27
44


Highland
59
40
19
25
13
18
-
2
6
10
-
5
22


Lanarkshire
34
16
6
35
29
24
-
-
-
-
-
-
8


Lothian
119
118
16
45
55
31
-
12
27
26
-
8
12


Orkney
4
3
3
5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-


Shetland
-
2
2
6
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


Tayside
61
50
9
42
49
17
-
12
8
6
-
-
2


Western Isles
4
8
3
4
5
4
-
-
-
1
-
1
1



  Source: ISD Scotland, Delayed Discharges Census.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22160 by Nicola Sturgeon on 30 March 2009, whether it will consider running a public awareness campaign to inform the public of the need to avoid unnecessary prescribing of antibiotics.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group, established under the Scottish Management of Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan, has set up a public campaign sub-group to review existing publicity materials and guidance. Following this work, consideration will be given to the need for a national campaign.

Health

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS prescriptions for antibiotics were dispensed in NHS Lothian in each year since 1999, broken down by antibiotic.

Shona Robison: The information requested is provided in the following table. The data show the number of prescribed items for antibiotics dispensed in NHS Lothian in the community by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors for the years ending 31 March 2000 to 2009. The data exclude the direct supply of medicines to patients from hospitals or hospital-based clinics.

  

Approved Drug Name
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04


Amikacin
0
0
0
23
5


Amoxicillin
176,895
177,456
173,113
175,004
172,119


Ampicillin
1,727
1,286
1,006
843
524


Azithromycin
484
762
1,263
1,670
1,955


Aztreonam
9
15
18
*
7


Benzylpenicillin
238
237
288
318
342


Cefaclor
2,308
2,516
2,441
2,029
1,610


Cefadroxil
13
*
7
13
5


Cefalexin
41,992
41,859
40,388
37,587
38,606


Cefixime
302
279
195
142
110


Cefotaxime
54
79
79
122
155


Cefpirome
*
0
0
0
0


Cefpodoxime
*
*
7
5
*


Cefprozil
*
0
*
0
0


Cefradine
856
710
614
593
486


Ceftazidime
55
53
49
42
21


Ceftibuten
*
0
0
0
0


Ceftriaxone Sodium
*
*
5
7
*


Cefuroxime
1,911
1,438
1,264
1,116
1,174


Chloramphenicol
*
13
14
24
38


Cinoxacin
*
*
0
0
0


Ciprofloxacin
15,273
15,353
15,418
15,007
14,755


Clarithromycin
18,328
19,580
19,704
21,647
22,714


Clindamycin
636
699
776
974
929


Clofazimine
*
*
16
*
0


Co-Amoxiclav
41,157
38,736
35,360
35,406
34,580


Co-Fluampicil
893
643
495
385
323


Colistin
248
227
248
263
228


Co-Trimoxazole
1,227
1,074
976
848
800


Cycloserine
227
222
194
147
136


Dapsone
504
478
462
454
405


Demeclocycline Hydrochloride
31
25
35
48
86


Doxycycline
14,568
14,613
12,962
11,914
10,800


Ertapenem
0
0
0
0
0


Erythromycin
55,564
53,322
48,972
48,033
46,110


Ethambutol Hydrochloride
357
237
248
238
166


Flucloxacillin
44,701
47,622
49,921
52,563
54,323


Fusidic Acid
211
777
638
465
516


Gentamicin
58
45
48
30
37


Grepafloxacin
0
0
0
0
0


Hexamine Hippurate
68
64
71
43
0


Imipenem with Cilastatin
*
0
0
0
0


Isoniazid
103
104
50
172
193


Levofloxacin
37
22
22
70
46


Lymecycline
782
1,252
1,403
1,499
1,778


Meropenem
20
15
18
20
11


Methenamine Hippurate
0
0
0
36
54


Metronidazole
20,931
20,186
20,896
23,863
23,300


Metronidazole with Nystatin
33
17
5
12
*


Minocycline
6,641
6,194
5,929
5,914
5,090


Moxifloxacin
0
0
0
0
8


Nalidixic Acid
339
292
246
208
165


Neomycin Sulphate
14
15
11
15
7


Netilmicin
*
0
0
0
0


Nitrofurantoin
2,291
2,502
2,831
3,559
3,091


Norfloxacin
3,995
3,931
4,184
4,095
4,002


Ofloxacin
275
309
435
651
650


Oxytetracycline
21,776
20,152
19,860
20,610
21,012


Phenoxymethypenicillin
48,178
47,843
44,476
44,396
42,138


Piperacillin
*
0
0
0
0


Piperacillin with Tazobactam
*
0
*
*
*


Pivmecillinam
0
12
*
*
*


Procaine Penicillin
7
*
0
0
0


Pyrazinamide
70
49
39
19
6


Rifabutin
5
*
20
*
6


Rifampicin
592
573
643
551
560


Rifampicin with Isoniazid
294
231
283
322
249


Streptomycin
0
*
0
0
0


Sulfadiazine
11
39
71
*
23


Sulfametopyrazine
*
0
*
0
0


Sulphadimidine
0
0
0
0
0


Sulphapyridine
0
0
*
8
*


Teicoplanin
0
0
0
8
0


Telithromycin
0
0
0
0
*


Tetracycline
1,365
1,146
1,146
1,108
968


Tetracycline, Chlortetracycline and Demeclocycline
297
145
101
78
47


Thalidomide
*
0
0
0
0


Tinidazole
33
44
62
28
38


Tobramycin
105
83
69
49
31


Trimethoprim
41,345
42,219
43,156
43,676
44,170


Vancomycin
24
19
26
19
39


All antibiotics
570,490
567,835
553,288
559,001
551,761



  

Approved Drug Name
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09


Amikacin
0
0
0
0
0


Amoxicillin
173,383
175,319
178,489
184,385
191,133


Ampicillin
464
359
344
214
161


Azithromycin
2,188
2,592
2,843
2,958
3,400


Aztreonam
*
5
*
*
*


Benzylpenicillin
236
292
316
273
277


Cefaclor
1,488
1,453
1,220
1,166
1,037


Cefadroxil
*
6
13
6
*


Cefalexin
39,772
39,719
38,500
36,574
34,583


Cefixime
114
113
94
110
115


Cefotaxime
149
142
182
204
267


Cefpirome
0
0
0
0
0


Cefpodoxime
0
*
*
5
*


Cefprozil
0
0
0
0
0


Cefradine
381
317
221
186
160


Ceftazidime
28
18
23
21
14


Ceftibuten
0
0
0
0
0


Ceftriaxone Sodium
*
*
7
7
10


Cefuroxime
1,113
1,078
902
990
846


Chloramphenicol
18
16
27
16
12


Cinoxacin
0
0
0
0
0


Ciprofloxacin
15,022
15,110
15,476
16,875
18,929


Clarithromycin
23,310
23,217
23,871
26,339
28,290


Clindamycin
1,129
1,175
1,308
1,564
1,228


Clofazimine
*
0
0
0
0


Co-Amoxiclav
33,456
32,986
32,946
34,075
34,168


Co-Fluampicil
314
424
428
337
324


Colistin
208
212
204
233
244


Co-Trimoxazole
774
737
631
639
682


Cycloserine
132
102
115
92
76


Dapsone
344
310
322
358
390


Demeclocycline Hydrochloride
74
106
114
135
180


Doxycycline
10,900
10,468
10,336
10,262
10,724


Ertapenem
0
0
0
0
0


Erythromycin
43,982
43,444
43,311
42,551
42,817


Ethambutol Hydrochloride
311
413
486
378
504


Flucloxacillin
54,682
54,864
57,043
56,983
61,416


Fusidic Acid
417
317
300
201
213


Gentamicin
71
89
70
91
89


Grepafloxacin
0
0
0
0
0


Hexamine Hippurate
0
0
0
0
0


Imipenem with Cilastatin
0
0
0
0
0


Isoniazid
289
366
177
143
272


Levofloxacin
42
31
50
56
48


Lymecycline
1,950
2,238
2,685
3,569
4,548


Meropenem
8
9
10
5
6


Methenamine Hippurate
38
23
33
30
43


Metronidazole
22,026
22,108
22,791
24,740
25,389


Metronidazole with Nystatin
0
0
0
0
0


Minocycline
4,672
4,074
3,376
2,516
2,236


Moxifloxacin
12
24
38
31
15


Nalidixic Acid
162
113
10
13
11


Neomycin Sulphate
30
52
73
90
82


Netilmicin
0
0
0
0
0


Nitrofurantoin
3,278
3,643
5,007
6,206
7,287


Norfloxacin
4,057
3,995
4,163
2,668
2,208


Ofloxacin
717
788
708
768
887


Oxytetracycline
20,493
20,013
20,462
21,500
23,145


Phenoxymethypenicillin
38,803
40,146
37,746
37,555
36,244


Piperacillin
0
0
0
0
0


Piperacillin with Tazobactam
*
*
*
*
0


Pivmecillinam
*
0
0
0
0


Procaine Penicillin
0
0
0
0
0


Pyrazinamide
0
0
0
0
0


Rifabutin
7
13
7
12
7


Rifampicin
546
600
572
513
503


Rifampicin with Isoniazid
338
324
269
261
327


Streptomycin
0
0
0
0
0


Sulfadiazine
24
13
13
21
10


Sulfametopyrazine
0
0
0
0
0


Sulphadimidine
0
0
0
0
0


Sulphapyridine
*
*
0
0
0


Teicoplanin
0
0
*
0
0


Telithromycin
0
0
8
0
0


Tetracycline
913
977
899
824
791


Tetracycline, Chlortetracycline and Demeclocycline
35
25
8
*
0


Thalidomide
0
0
0
0
0


Tinidazole
41
33
42
33
38


Tobramycin
45
57
75
74
55


Trimethoprim
44,261
45,291
47,630
50,853
54,069


Vancomycin
48
33
56
96
105


All antibiotics
547,308
550,401
557,056
570,809
590,622



  Notes:

  1. *Indicates values that have been suppressed due to the potential risk of disclosure of individuals.

  2. The information in the table has been provided by NHS National services Scotland.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the (a) services and (b) treatments available to people with weight problems.

Shona Robison: Healthy Eating, Active Living: an action plan to improve diet, increase physical activity and tackle obesity (June 2008) outlines the broad range of services that are delivered through the NHS, local authorities and the third sector which the government supports. In addition the NHS offers a range of services and treatments that are available to people with weight problems that have been developed and delivered locally by individual NHS boards.

Health

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional funds will be available to NHS boards advised by their managed clinical networks to provide static or mobile public access defibrillators.

Nicola Sturgeon: Our Better Heart Disease and Stroke Care Action Plan, launched in June, places an action on boards to seek advice from their cardiac managed clinical networks (MCNs) in considering the introduction of both static and mobile public access defibrillators (PADs), in particular whether there are suitable locations in their area in which the static approach might be beneficial. If recommended by the MCNs, NHS boards should introduce these by the end of March 2010. In doing so, NHS boards would be expected to call on funding from their general allocations.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will require the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate to follow the structure used in the NHS QIS Clostridium difficile outbreak review reports, which set out both local and national learning points.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Healthcare Environment Inspectorate is currently reporting on the performance of each acute hospital in Scotland against the Standards for Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) published by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland in March 2008. The reports are highlighting areas of good practice and areas which require improvement. There will be an annual report published by the chief inspector, which will point to local and national learning for HAI across the NHS in Scotland.

  It is too early for the Inspectorate to highlight national learning and this will not be possible until every NHS board in Scotland has had at least one inspection and this is scheduled to be completed by the end of September 2010. All NHS boards have been required to have regard to the findings of each of the reports published by the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate in order that any necessary improvements can be made without delay.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will instruct the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate to rate its findings on the same six-point scale as used by the Care Commission and HM Inspectorate of Education.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Healthcare Environment Inspectorate operates independently of the Scottish Government and the NHS boards which it inspects. The inspection methodology which was piloted in two NHS boards is available from http://www.nhshealthquality.org/nhsqis/6710.140.1366.html .

  Grading of inspections undertaken by the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate along similar lines to those undertaken by other scrutiny bodies is not practicable at present or in the near future. The methodology developed for the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate is not a system of grading and to develop such a system would take many months of preparatory and development work as well as wide consultation with key stakeholders. However, the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate will keep its arrangements under review and make improvements where necessary.

Health

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing’s statement to the Parliament on 26 November 2009 in relation to the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Healthcare Environment Inspectorate report, how it is ensuring that the Senior Charge Nurse Review is being implemented in such a way that senior charge nurses are able to challenge all individuals in their role of maintaining the highest standards in hospital wards.

Nicola Sturgeon: Through Leading Better Care , we are empowering Senior Charge Nurses (SCNs) to become clinical leaders in their ward areas and to have professional responsibility for ensuring a safe and effective healthcare environment for patients. They act as the first point of contact for patients, their families and their carers and have access to budgets for urgent repairs and the replacement of equipment. The SCNs role is supported by a number of clinical quality indicators and they must also monitor infections within their clinical area - a key element of Scotland’s patient safety programme.

  The transition of SCNs to this revised role is a phased process and is being underpinned by an educational framework and national facilitator network. All NHS boards have submitted their implementation plans, with all hospital based SCNs in Scotland working to this role by the end of 2010.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the learning point in the NHS QIS report, NHS Grampian, Report of findings - June 2009, Infection Prevention and Control: Improving through Learning , to consider ways of ensuring coherence of response to media enquiries between NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government in relation to outbreaks of Clostridium difficile.

Nicola Sturgeon: In the event of an incident or outbreak, all NHS boards are required to complete an incident and outbreak reporting template. This is used to inform key contacts at both the Scottish Government and Health Protection Scotland. I have asked the HAI Task Force at its next meeting on 8 December to review the arrangements in place for notifying the public of incidents/outbreaks. I have also asked that any changes support a consistency of approach across the NHS; are based on the principle of a single point of contact between the Scottish Government and the NHS board and preserve the absolute priority of protecting the interests of patients and their families at all times.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when a joint forum for infection control teams and their key collaborators will be set up in order to facilitate learning from successes or failures, as recommended in the NHS QIS report, Lessons learned from NHS QIS visits to NHS Orkney, NHS Highland and NHS Grampian following Clostridium difficile incidents: Overview Report - June 2009 .

Nicola Sturgeon: Following the recommendations set out in the NHS QIS reports, the national HAI Task Force established a short life group to review the membership and terms of reference for both the task force and the national HAI Stakeholder Group.

  This group has met twice and will report its findings at the 8 December meeting of the task force. Its remit has been to ensure the terms of reference and membership for both groups support the provision of advice to the Scottish Government on the appropriate operational and policy response/approach for reducing HAI in Scotland.

  This review will also ensure that the professional interests involved in supporting delivery of the infection control agenda are fully represented in overseeing both policy development and operational delivery at national level.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost is of treating a case of preventable healthcare associated infection in hospital.

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost is of treating a case of preventable MRSA infection in hospital.

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost is of treating a preventable case of Clostridium difficile infection in hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish HAI Point Prevalence Survey (PPS) published in July 2007, estimated that, on average, it costs an additional £2,105 to treat a patient with a healthcare associated infection (HAI) in an acute hospital and that the annual cost of HAI in acute hospitals in Scotland, in terms of both harm to patients and consumption of healthcare resources, is estimated to be around £183 million per year.

  The PPS provides a more detailed breakdown of hospital costs in chapter 6.13 of the PPS. The PPS can be found at:

  http://www.documents.hps.scot.nhs.uk/hai/sshaip/publications/national-prevalence-study/report/full-report.pdf.

  The estimates provided above should be treated with some caution. It is not possible to provide any accurate figure of the cost of treating a case of healthcare associated infection in Scotland as the actual cost in each case would vary, depending on the underlying medical condition of the patient, their age, their length of stay and the medicines required to treat them.

Housing

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to assess the number of vacant and derelict houses.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government and the General Register Office for Scotland both collect data annually on the number of empty properties throughout Scotland. Information on derelict homes will be collected as part of this.

  The Scottish Government also collects data annually, by local authority, on the number of vacant local authority dwellings, including on the length of the vacancy and the status of the dwelling. In addition, the Scottish Housing Regulator gathers data annually on the number of self contained housing association dwellings, by local authority, that are vacant. Information is also collected on the number of self contained dwellings that are unavailable for let, because of demolition, rehabilitation or other reasons.

Housing

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to assess the number of vacant and derelict properties.

Alex Neil: Information on the number of vacant and derelict non-domestic (business) premises is not held centrally.

  Information on premises liable for business rates is held on the Scottish Assessors Portal, www.saa.gov.uk. However, the portal does not maintain reliable data on the vacancy history of individual properties.

Housing

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to assess the number of derelict houses where the owner cannot be traced.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to assess the number of derelict properties where the owner cannot be traced.

Alex Neil: Information on the number of derelict properties in Scotland where the owner cannot be traced is not held centrally.

Housing

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to assist local authorities in dealing with derelict properties.

Alex Neil: The Housing (Scotland) Act 2006, gives local authorities new powers to take action against properties which are below the tolerable standard, in a state of serious disrepair or in need of repair and likely to deteriorate rapidly and cause damage to other properties if nothing is done to repair them. These powers would apply to domestic properties and non-domestic properties where they form part of a building containing housing which is also substandard. The Scottish Government has produced a suite of guidance to support local authorities in the implementation of the powers and continues to encourage the sharing of good practice.

  In addition, the Scottish Government has granted local authorities the discretion to vary the level of council tax discount for long-term empty properties and flexibility to use the funds raised by reducing this discount for a range of purposes, including to bring empty properties back into use.

  Volume four of the Scottish Government’s Review of the Private Rented Sector also suggests how local authorities can adopt a strategic approach to bringing empty houses back into supply, including methods for partnership working and data gathering. Officials are currently working with stakeholders to consider the review’s recommendation that the Scottish Government should fund a fixed-term post to provide support to local authorities to take action on empty houses.

Housing

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it proposes to tackle problems caused by absentee owners who allow houses and other properties to fall into disrepair and dereliction.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government would encourage local authorities to make use of the powers available to them to tackle disrepair in private sector housing.

  From 1 April 2009, local authorities have had new powers under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 to tackle disrepair. An authority can issue a work notice on a house which is substandard, or a maintenance order requiring a maintenance plan for a house which has not been, or is unlikely to be, maintained to a reasonable standard. If the owner does not comply, for example where they are absent, the local authority can enforce the notice or plan and recover the costs from the owner. This can include issuing a repayment charge against the property.

  Local authorities also have powers under the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 to deal with defective or dangerous buildings. Where the local authority considers that a building has defects that require to be dealt with to prevent significant deterioration, they can serve a notice on the owner. The type of defects that can be dealt with are those required to bring the building into a reasonable state of repair having regard to its age, type and location.

Housing

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it will do to assist people whose homes are adjacent to properties in disrepair and dereliction.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government would encourage local authorities to make use of the powers available to them under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006, to provide assistance to home owners. Owners of houses adjacent to properties in disrepair and dereliction may be able to access information and advice from authorities under their schemes of assistance, or to secure enforcement action using work notice powers under that act, where the authority thinks it is appropriate.

Housing

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide funding to local authorities to enable them to tackle problems caused by derelict properties.

Alex Neil: Local authorities receive funding through Private Sector Housing Grant (PSHG) to help them deal with disrepair in private sector housing. In 2009-10, the total PSHG allocation was £67.335 million. Authorities are responsible for determining the priorities in their area when allocating these resources. This will continue to be the case from 2010-11 when PSHG will be rolled up into the General Capital Grant.

  More generally, the Scottish Government is providing local government in Scotland with significant levels of funding. It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available to it, including the money raised locally through the council tax, on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities, including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives.

Justice

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many convictions there have been for (a) loitering and (b) soliciting under the Prostitution (Public Places) Scotland Act 2007 and how many were for repeat offences, broken down by police force area.

Kenny MacAskill: The Prostitution (Public Places) (Scotland) Act 2007 came into effect on 15 October 2007. The date of offence is not available in the Court Proceedings data, so the table below presents the data available to 31 March 2008, based upon date of sentence, i.e. only proceedings that were completed before 1 April 2008 are included. Data for financial year 2008-09 will be published in March 2010. None of those convicted under this act were repeat offenders, under either this act or section 46 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.

  Persons with a Charge Proved in Scottish Courts under the Prostitution (Public Places) (Scotland) Act 2007, Sections 1(1) and 1(3), 2007-081

  

Police Force/Offence1
2007-08


Lothian and Borders
 


Soliciting
1


Loitering
1


Strathclyde
 


Soliciting
6


Loitering
10



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. By date of sentence.

Justice

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many convictions there have there for soliciting under section 46 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 since October 2007, broken down by police force area.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table. The table presents the data available, based upon the date of sentence. It is not known how many of these convictions relate to offences committed before October 2007 because the date of offence is not available in the data held centrally. Data for the financial year 2008-09 will be published in March 2010.

  Persons with a Charge Proved in Scottish Courts under Section 46 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 19821, by Police Force Area, October 2007 to March 20082

  

Police Force Area
1 October 2007 to 31 March 2008


Grampian 
9


Lothian and Borders 
7


Strathclyde 
79


Total
95



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. By date of sentence.

Maternity Services

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) obstetric and (b) community maternity units there are, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: The information requested has been presented in the following table.

  

NHS Board
Consultant Led Units
Community Maternity Units


Ayrshire and Arran
1
1


Borders
1
0


Dumfries and Galloway
1
0


Forth Valley
1
0


Fife
1
0


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
4
3


Grampian
2
4


Highland
2
7


Lanarkshire
1
0


Lothian
2
0


Tayside
1
4


Orkney
0
1


Shetland
0
1


Western Isles
1
1



  Many of our consultant led units have alongside them midwife led birthing facilities and all NHS boards offer women the option of a home birth where appropriate.

Maternity Services

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many women gave birth (a) in an obstetric unit, (b) in a community maternity unit and (c) at home in (i) 2007-08 and (ii) 2008-09.

Shona Robison: This information is not collected or held centrally for parts (a) and (b), however, we would expect NHS boards to record this information on an individual basis.

  With regard to part (c), General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) confirm that:

  (i) 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 there were 868 births,

  (ii) 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009 there were 888 births.

  These figures apply to non-institution births, most of which are home births. There are however occasions where births occur elsewhere such as en-route to hospital or in a relatives home.

Maternity Services

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of low-risk women giving birth in an obstetric unit had a medical intervention during childbirth in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of low-risk women giving birth in a community maternity unit had a medical intervention during childbirth in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09.

Shona Robison: NHS boards advise that this information is not collected routinely. The terms medical intervention and low risk require further definition.

Maternity Services

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of low-risk women giving birth at home had a medical intervention during childbirth in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09.

Shona Robison: The term medical intervention and low risk require further definition. Where complications do arise, patients are transferred to an obstetric unit.

Maternity Services

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it collects data about birthing place choice.

Shona Robison: NHS boards do not routinely collect this information, however, we would expect NHS boards to hold this information on an individual record.

Maternity Services

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers consider that increasing the number of post-mortem examinations will provide further information into the causes of stillbirth.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Morbidity and Mortality Research Action Group supports and endorses the continuing value of post mortem examinations. They allow greater understanding of the causes of death which may have implications for preventative strategies.

  Work is in the planning stages of a proposal to survey international coding systems, and seek agreement from the clinical community to change our current coding and classification systems, to take cognisance of improvements in placental pathology and improved coding systems in other countries. A new coding system is expected to be in operation for 2011.

Maternity Services

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps ministers are taking to increase the number of post-mortem examinations following stillbirth.

Shona Robison: Maternity and Neonatal Units have explicit guidelines surrounding the occurrence of stillbirths, neonatal deaths and maternal deaths. There is a range of appropriate specified investigations, including a post mortem examination, to try to identify a cause for the death, however, no investigation is undertaken without parental consent unless the procurator fiscal is involved. When a maternal death occurs the procurator fiscal is always involved. NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) has produced standards on the management of post mortem examinations.

  Work is in the planning stages of a proposal to survey international coding systems, and seek agreement from the clinical community to change our current coding and classification systems, to take cognisance of improvements in placental pathology and improved coding systems in other countries. A new coding system is expected to be in operation for 2011.

NHS Services

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what risk assessment has been carried out on decontamination requirements for podiatry instruments.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is being given to NHS podiatrists to comply with implementation in 2010 of the policy on decontamination of podiatry instruments.

Nicola Sturgeon: The provision of NHS services including podiatry services, is a matter for NHS boards. NHS boards have a responsibility for allocating resources for NHS services in line with local and national priorities.

  Advice and guidance around the decontamination of surgical instruments used in podiatry, can be obtained from local health boards, Health Protection Scotland and Health Facilities Scotland.

NHS Staff

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how will it ensure that optimum use is made of applied psychologist skills in NHS Scotland.

Shona Robison: We have recently made available to NHS boards the outcomes of considerations by a multi-disciplinary working group established to look at how the psychology profession can best respond to the increased demand for access to applied psychologists and psychological therapies in Scotland. We have asked that they take account of this in developing their plans for the future in considering the role that applied psychologists can play in developing the overall psychological competence of the workforce.

NHS Staff

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the implementation of the European working time directive in relation to junior doctors, what steps it is taking to ensure that new rotas do not result in unreasonable antisocial shifts.

Nicola Sturgeon: Under the New Deal contract, all rotas in NHS Scotland have to be approved by the New Deal Manager/WTR Adviser before implementation. This approval ensures that all working patterns meet the required legal and contractual guidelines, including hours of work and associated rest/time off requirements. If these requirements are not met, rotas cannot be implemented.

Prison Service

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people serving a prison sentence had no fixed abode and what percentage of the total prison population this was in each year since 2005, broken down by prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information requested is shown in the following table. This gives the snapshot population at the end of June in each year.

  Sentenced Prisoners with No Fixed Abode on 30 June 2005-08

  


 
2005
2006
2007
2008


Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%


Barlinnie
45
3
38
3
40
3
42
3


Aberdeen
7
3
6
3
7
3
6
3


Cornton Vale
7
3
6
2
2
1
10
2


Dumfries
10
5
11
5
8
4
11
6


Edinburgh
15
2
24
3
22
3
25
3


Glenochil 
12
3
23
5
32
5
21
3


Greenock
9
3
11
4
10
3
10
3


Inverness
4
3
4
3
5
4
5
4


Low Moss
7
2
3
1
 
 
 
 


Perth
14
3
10
2
4
1
3
*


Peterhead
23
8
20
7
19
6
19
6


Polmont
9
1
4
1
3
*
2
*


Shotts
24
5
22
4
14
3
20
4


Kilmarnock
40
7
38
6
47
7
42
6


Open Estate
6
2
8
2
10
2
4
1


All
232
3
228
3
223
3
220
3



  Source: Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services.

  Notes:

  1. Some of these percentages are based on small numbers and therefore year-on-year fluctuations should be interpreted with caution.

  2. Low Moss closed in May 2007.

  3. This table consists of those prisoners whose address information on 30 June in the given years was no fixed abode. The address information on liberation from prison may be different.

  4. The following symbols are used throughout:

  -nil,

  *less than 0.5,

  n/a - not available.

Prison Service

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people held on remand had no fixed abode and what percentage of the total number of prisoners on remand this was in each year since 2005, broken down by prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information requested is shown in the following table. This gives the snapshot population at the end of June in each year.

  Remand Prisoners With No Fixed Abode on 30 June 2005-08

  

 
2005
2006
2007
2008


Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%


Barlinnie
16 
5 
17 
4 
15 
3 
34 
6 


Aberdeen
3 
5 
1 
1 
1 
1 
6 
5 


Cornton Vale
4 
6 
5 
4 
6 
6 
13 
9 


Dumfries
5 
16 
5 
14 
-
-
4 
8 


Edinburgh
7 
5 
7 
3 
4 
2 
11 
4 


Greenock
4 
5 
2 
2 
3 
3 
2 
2 


Inverness
2 
6 
3 
5 
5 
8 
4 
6 


Perth
3 
2 
2 
1 
4 
2 
-
-


Polmont
2 
2 
1 
1 
2 
2 
-
-


Kilmarnock
2 
3 
3 
4 
-
-
8 
7 


All
48 
4 
46 
3 
40 
3 
82 
5 



  Source: Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services.

  Notes:

  1. Some of these percentages are based on small numbers and therefore year-on-year fluctuations should be interpreted with caution.

  2. This table consists of those prisoners whose address information on 30 June in the given years was no fixed abode. The address information on liberation from prison may be different.

  3. The following symbols are used throughout:

  -nil,

  *less than 0.5,

  n/a - not available.

Prison Service

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners were (a) known and (b) estimated to have drug dependency issues in each year since 1950.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  This information is not available, however drug dependency performance data from 1970 is presented in the following tables.

  Table 1

  

Year
Average Daily Population
Number known to have Drug Dependency Issues
Additional Information


1970
5,003
35
 


1971
5,338
42
 


1972
5,220
87
 


1973
4,810
40
 


1974
4,689
6
Figure relates only to "hard drugs" e.g. Heroin


1975
4,951
17
 


1976
4,884
32
Figure relates only to "hard drugs" e.g. Heroin


1977
4,871
15
 


1978
5,062
42
 


1979
4,585
35
 


1980
4,860
69
 


1981
4,518
121
 


1982
4,891
Not recorded this year
 


1983
5,052
490
Recorded as dependent or having recently abused drugs


1984
4,753
1,163
 


1985
5,273
Report is not available
 


1986
5,587
Report is not available
 


1987
5,446
Report is not available
 


1988
5,229
Report is not available
 


1989-90
4,920
2,301
 


1990-91
4,753
2,714
 



  Table 2

  

Year
Methodology
Average DailyPopulation
Number of Tests Completed
Proportion Estimated to have Drug Dependency Issues


1996-97
MDT*
5,993
Information is not available
36%


1997-98
MDT
6,059
7,070
29%


1998-99
MDT
6,029
7,162
25%


1999-2000
MDT
5,975
6,605
22%


2000-01
MDT
5,883
5,647
21%


2001-02
MDT
6,186
6,974
22%


2002-03
MDT
6,475
7,529
23%


2003-04
MDT
6,621
6,456
35%


2004-05
MDT
6,779
7,308
37%



  Note: *The phased introduction of MDT from February 1996 meant that not all establishments were carrying out tests for all of 1996-97.

  

The following data are not comparable with the above due to differing testing methodology


Year
Methodology
Average DailyPopulation
Number of TestsCompleted
Proportion estimated to have drug dependency issues


2005-06
APM
6,857
903
34%


2006-07
APM
7,183
1,784
41%


The following data are not comparable with the above due to differing testing methodology


2007-08
APT
7,376
836
71%


2008-09
APT
7,835
1,112
75%



  Notes:

  No information is available between 1991 and 1996. However research was carried out during this time and the findings of the report were used to inform future policy. Shewan D, Gemmell M and Davies JB; Drug Use and Scottish Prisons – Summary Report; 1994.

  MDT - Mandatory Drug Testing (1996 to 2005)

  A random 10% of the current prisoner population per month were tested. The Key Performance Indicator for this measure was 85% drug free.

  ATM - Addiction Testing measure (2005-06 to 2006-07).

  A random 5% sample of the prisoner population is tested three times per year. The test was voluntary and the results anonymous and could not be attributed to the individual tested. This measure was designed to better inform the interventions required to meet prisoner needs. The voluntary nature of the test resulted in low participation rates.

  APT - Addiction Prevalence Testing (2007-08 to 2008-09).

  This test took place in two months of the year and involved testing all admissions and liberations, (equivalent to 5% of total annual admissions and liberations). This allows key measurement of reduction in drug use between admission and liberation. There was a chain of custody and the obtained sample was sent to an independent lab for testing. The test was mandatory but anonymous; therefore a positive test did not result in punishment but there was an incentive to take part resulting in higher numbers being tested.

Public Sector Staff

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many public sector staff are in each pay grade, broken down by (a) local government, (b) core Scottish Government, (c) Scottish Government agency or (d) non-ministerial government department staff.

John Swinney: The following table provides information on the number of employees in each pay grade on 31 October 2009.

  The table is grouped into three sections: Scottish Government core, Scottish Government agencies (excluding those detailed below) and non-departmental public bodies. The Scottish Government does not employ any local government personnel.

  The Scottish Government only holds this information for those agencies to which we provide an HR function. Registers of Scotland, Scottish Prisons Service, Historic Scotland, Scottish Courts Service and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service have their own HR function and hold their own HR data, and therefore have not been included in the table.

  The Scottish Government is unable to provide data for local government as it does not hold pay grade information for these organisations.

  Staff Head Counts, by Pay Range, on 31 October 2009

  

Directorate-General (DG)
A3
A4
B1
B2
B3
BFS
C1
C2
C3
LT
NA
SCS
Grand Total


DG Economy
48
29
49
106
96
5
62
24
4
 
1
20
444


DG Education
81
12
100
163
114
9
88
24
2
 
2
25
620


DG Environment
330
88
425
355
194
11
126
40
9
 
189
26
1,793


DG FCS
358
51
172
224
182
1
85
20
9
 
6
20
1,128


DG Health
91
15
68
107
73
6
42
40
4
 
 
31
477


DG Justice
192
39
96
165
166
8
197
84
15
11
14
49
1,036


Paid Centrally Managed Staff
1
 
1
 
 
 
2
 
 
 
 
 
4


Perm Sec
45
8
24
35
20
8
43
12
 
 
10
12
217


SG Core Total
1,146
242
935
1,155
845
48
645
244
43
11
222
183
5,719


Agencies
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


AIB
100
 
38
13
9
 
2
1
 
 
 
1
164


Disc Scot
102
23
23
2
19
 
2
1
 
 
 
1
173


FRS
1
 
1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2


GROS
133
25
64
59
27
1
10
2
2
 
 
1
324


HMI Constabulary
1
2
 
 
1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4


HMI Prisons
1
 
 
 
 
 
1
 
 
 
 
1
3


HMIe
70
7
18
4
8
1
1
87
12
 
 
8
216


NAS
80
5
18
32
14
 
7
 
1
 
 
1
158


OSCR
12
2
11
9
10
 
2
2
 
 
 
1
49


SAAS
90
24
26
13
8
 
1
1
 
 
 
1
164


Scot Housing Reg
3
1
2
6
35
 
11
4
1
 
 
1
64


SPPA
167
 
54
25
10
 
1
3
 
 
 
1
261


SWIA
7
 
9
2
2
 
2
22
2
 
 
1
47


Trans Scot
58
12
24
62
85
1
34
19
9
 
1
6
311


Agencies Total
825
101
288
227
228
3
74
142
27
 
1
24
1,940


Non-departmental Public Bodies
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Crofters Comm
23
4
14
12
5
 
2
 
1
 
 
 
61


Deer Comm
4
 
3
10
1
 
2
1
 
 
 
 
21


LGBC
 
 
1
2
 
 
1
 
 
 
 
 
4


MHTS
1
1
4
 
 
 
 
1
 
 
 
 
7


Parole Board
6
 
5
2
 
 
1
 
 
 
 
 
14


ASN Tribunals
1
2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3


Non-departmental Total
35
7
27
26
6
 
6
2
1
 
 
 
110


Grand Total
2,006
350
1,250
1,408
1,079
51
725
388
71
11
223
207
7,769



  Notes:

  BFS – Band B (Fast Stream).

  LT – Legal Trainee.

  NA – Not Assimilated, these staff have come from another department or employer under

  TUPE terms, and have retained their original terms and conditions, including grading. This includes marine grades.

  SCS – Senior Civil Servant.

Regeneration

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any bids for funding from the second tranche of the Town Centre Regeneration Fund that were rejected contrary to the recommendations of the advisory panel.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any bids for funding from the second tranche of the Town Centre Regeneration Fund that were accepted contrary to the recommendations of the advisory panel.

Alex Neil: Details of all unsuccessful bids will be published on the Scottish Government website by mid December. I will, at that time, be in a position to provide the detailed information requested. I will write to the member as soon as the information is available and a copy will be placed in the Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre (Bib. Number 49811).

Regeneration

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to secure alternative funding for projects that met the criteria for the Town Centre Regeneration Fund but were unsuccessful.

Alex Neil: Whilst we are aware that a number of projects are seeking funding from other sources, it is not our intention to seek to influence grant making bodies in favour of certain applicants to the disadvantage of others. We are, however, considering the practical support we can offer both successful and unsuccessful projects through our Town Centres and Local High Streets Learning Network.

  The learning network offers a forum for practitioners to share ideas and best practice generally from others delivering town centre regeneration. The network will enable them to share experiences of how successful funding packages have been put together and will particularly look to disseminate learning emerging from evaluation of the Town Centre Regeneration Fund.

Regeneration

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many projects that met the criteria for the Town Centre Regeneration Fund were unsuccessful.

Alex Neil: The majority of projects achieved adequate scores in most of the criteria. However, bids that were able to show that they exceeded the criteria were prioritised for funding. In addition, account was taken of the need to achieve a fair geographic spread, with all areas of Scotland benefiting from funding.

Regeneration

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the number of unsuccessful applications, what plans it has for future rounds of funding from the Town Centre Regeneration Fund.

Alex Neil: There are no current plans for future rounds of funding from the Town Centre Regeneration Fund.

Scottish Law Commission

Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to take action in response to the Scottish Law Commission reports on succession and on damages.

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Law Commission has produced helpful reports on succession and on damages. The commission’s report on Succession (No.215, 2009) was published on 15 April and, having provided the Scottish Government’s initial response on 13 July, I subsequently met with the chairman of the commission to discuss its proposals. The intention now is to engage with stakeholders, through a programme of dialogue and formal consultation, so that determination of the way forward can take account of all relevant perspectives, including any potential financial and regulatory implications. Similar integrated work is being developed in relation to damages for personal injury, bringing together the commission’s report on Damages for Psychiatric Injury (No.196, 2004), their Report on Personal Injury Action: Limitation and Prescribed Cases (No.207, 2007) and their report on Damages for Wrongful Death (No.213, 2008).

  Copies of these documents are available on the commission’s website, www.scotlawcom.gov.uk.

Unemployment

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were unemployed in the Lothians region at the end of each month since November 2008, broken down by local authority area.

John Swinney: Monthly estimates of unemployment at local authority level are available from the claimant count. This gives the number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits and is published monthly by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The claimant count normally refers to the second Thursday of each month.

  The table below shows the number of people on the claimant count for each local authority in the Lothians region, from November 2008 to October 2009 (the latest data available).

  Claimant Count Levels by Local Authority, Lothians Region, November 2008 to October 2009 (not Seasonally Adjusted)

  

 
East Lothian
Edinburgh City
Midlothian
West Lothian


November 2008
993
6,545
1,058
2,936


December 2008
1,136
6,974
1,168
3,266


January 2009
1,332
7,682
1,363
3,735


February 2009
1,575
8,850
1,587
4,309


March 2009
1,615
9,374
1,623
4,478


April 2009
1,588
9,448
1,681
4,530


May 2009
1,609
9,521
1,549
4,542


June 2009
1,619
9,729
1,601
4,573


July 2009
1,701
10,022
1,665
4,578


August 2009
1,737
10,215
1,752
4,747


September 2009
1,671
9,995
1,730
4,651


October 2009
1,719
10,245
1,795
4,736



  Source: Office for National Statistics.

Wildlife Crime

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it proposes to implement further measures to improve the enforcement of wildlife and conservation law with the aim of ensuring that owners and managers of business and land holdings are held responsible for the actions of their staff in relation to offences.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce criminal vicarious liability in connection with wildlife crime at present. The natural justice report into Scottish wildlife crime arrangements recommended that the issue of vicarious liability should be considered by the PAW Scotland Legislation, Regulation and Guidance sub-group. I will consider any advice on this matter which the sub-group provides.

Wildlife Crime

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many wildlife crime officers there are.

Roseanna Cunningham: All Scottish police forces have police officers whose responsibilities include dealing with wildlife crime. Information on numbers of officers who have a specific responsibility for such matters is not held centrally.

  The current number of police wildlife crime co-ordinators is six. Two of these are full-time support staff and four are police officers who carry out this role as part their duties. Two forces currently do not have a wildlife crime co-ordinator.

Wildlife Crime

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which of the recommendations made in the Thematic Review of Wildlife Crime remain to be implemented in each Scottish police force and within the Scottish Government.

Roseanna Cunningham: A follow-up to the thematic review was carried out by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland and Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland this year. This update, released by the Scottish Government in November, contains a list of the original recommendations.

  The report can be found at

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/Wildlife-Habitats/paw-scotland/news/naturaljusticeupdate.